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AfCFTA honours ex-Nigerien leader with a statue in Ghana

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , , , , , ,

– – A bronze bust statue on a marble stone has been unveiled at a ceremony in Ghana’s capital, Accra to honour former president of Niger, Mahamadou Issoufou. The statue was unveiled in the presence of five African heads of state at the forecourt of the secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) based in Accra. Issoufou was honored for his role in getting the continental free trade deal finally activated after decades of delay and inaction. In a statement the AfCFTA secretariat and its partners said Issoufou…

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16 Soldiers killed militant attack in Niger

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , ,

– – At least 16 soldiers have been killed in a militant attack in the western Tahoua Region in Niger. The area has recorded the death of more than 200 civilians who were killed in an unclaimed attack in March. Reports say the soldiers were ambushed by armed individuals near Agando area in the region. Six more soldiers were injured in the attack and one is still missing. The wounded soldiers were taken to the Tahoua regional hospital and the dead were buried in the presence of regional authorities and defence and…

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Niger: Fire kills 20 school children trapped in classrooms

Elwin Mandowa, , , , ,

– – At least 20 children have died after fire gutted their classrooms in Niger. The fire started around the entrance of the school, which has a population of 800 students. It spread to 21 classrooms built with straw and trapped the children inside, as they did not have an alternative escape route. The cause of the fire in the school, located in the Pays Bas area of the capital Niamey, has not yet been established. “Without an emergency exit, many were trapped and students were forced to scale the wall to escape.…

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Niger: Bazoum sworn in as President after coup attempt

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , ,

– – Mohamed Bazoum has been sworn in as the president of Niger at a ceremony in the capital, Niamey on Friday. The swearing in ceremony was held under beefed-up security following a foiled coup attempt during the week. Niger has been on high alert after that incident and the new president now has a major task to restore order. President Mohamed Bazoum is taking over in Niger’s first democratic transition of power since independence from France in 1960. – – Former President Mahamadou Issoufou stepped down after his two…

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Niger makes several arrests after foiled coup attempt

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , ,

– – Several people have been arrested in Niger while others are on the run after a foiled coup attempt on Wednesday morning. Government officials said a military unit tried to seize the presidential palace in the capital Niamey overnight. Assailants from a nearby air base, according to the government fled after the presidential guard met their attack with heavy shelling and gunfire. The move was an attempted coup just two days before a newly elected president  Mohamed Bazoum is inaugurated. Government spokesman Abdourahamane Zakaria told reporters that “The government condemns this…

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Heavy gunfire heard near Niger’s presidency

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , ,

– – Niger’s capital Niamey is on high alert after residents said they heard heavy gunfire on Wednesday morning near the presidency. A resident was quoted by AFP as saying that “It was around 3am, we have heard shots from heavy and light weapons and it lasted 15 minutes before stopping, followed by shots from light weapons.” Another resident of Niamey’s Plateau district said “the gunfire lasted about 20 minutes” but calm returned to the district though hours later. This incident is happening just two days ahead of the swearing-in…

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Niger’s outgoing President Issoufou wins African leadership prize

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , , ,

– – Niger’s President Mahamadou Issoufou has won the 2020 edition of the Ibrahim prize for African leadership. Issoufou was announced as winner of the $5m prize on Monday for his leadership qualities in transforming Niger. Mahamadou Issoufou has served two five-year terms as president from 2011 to 2020. He announced his decision to step down after the two five-year terms, a move that has hailed by many and considered significant in promoting democracy in the West African nation. Issoufou had said that “Handing over power in 2021 to a…

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Over 7,000 Nigerian refugees flee to Niger

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , , ,

– – Some 7,600 Nigerian refugees have reportedly fled to Niger since January this year. The United Nations which made the revelation said the violence in north-western Nigeria has caused its citizens to flee into neighbouring Niger, where violence is also on the rise. The UN refugee agency UNHCR attributed the development to the fear of armed groups and communal clashes in Nigeria. “Most of the refugees are women and children, displaced following recent attacks in Nigeria’s Sokoto state,” spokesperson Boris Cheshirkov said. The UNHCR said people fleeing are in urgent need of water,…

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Africa Featured Nigeria West Africa World 

Over 7,000 Nigerian refugees flee to Niger

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , , ,

– – Some 7,600 Nigerian refugees have reportedly fled to Niger since January this year. The United Nations which made the revelation said the violence in north-western Nigeria has caused its citizens to flee into neighbouring Niger, where violence is also on the rise. The UN refugee agency UNHCR attributed the development to the fear of armed groups and communal clashes in Nigeria. “Most of the refugees are women and children, displaced following recent attacks in Nigeria’s Sokoto state,” spokesperson Boris Cheshirkov said. The UNHCR said people fleeing are in urgent need of water,…

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Niger: Protests erupt after Bazoum wins presidential run-off vote

Elwin Mandowa, , , , , , ,

– – Protests have erupted in Niger with reports of clashes between protesters and police in parts of the capital, Niamey. The clashes erupted before and after the announcement of Mohamed Bazoum as winner of the presidential run-off. Angry supporters of his challenger Mahamane Ousmane have been protesting in opposition strongholds. Protesters have burnt tyres and a campaign vehicle belonging to the ruling PND party have been destroyed. Sunday’s presidential run-off vote was to help citizens choose a new leader towards first democratic transfer of power. – – Outgoing President…

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